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A study led by Kevin King, a bioengineer and physician at the University of California, San Diego, has found that the immune system plays a surprising role in the aftermath of heart attacks. The research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for heart disease. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine]
Press Release | Abstract

Researchers present the transcriptomic changes in cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) resulting from CD4+ T cell help after anti-cancer vaccination or virus infection. The gene expression signatures revealed that CD4+ T cell help during priming optimized CTLs in expression of cytotoxic effector molecules and many other functions that ensured efficacy of CTLs throughout their life cycle. [Immunity]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract

The authors report that alveolar macrophages (AMs), in contrast to most other tissue macrophages, were dependent on transforming growth factor-β receptor (TGF-βR) signaling. Conditional deletion of TGF-βR in mice at different time points halted the development and differentiation of AMs. [Immunity]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Investigators showed that exosomes from poorly metastatic melanoma cells can potently inhibit metastasis to the lung. These “non-metastatic” exosomes stimulated an innate immune response through the expansion of Ly6Clow patrolling monocytes in the bone marrow, which then caused cancer cell clearance at the pre-metastatic niche, via the recruitment of NK cells and TRAIL-dependent killing of melanoma cells by macrophages. [Nat Commun]
Full Article

The authors showed that αVβ8 dimers are present on stimulated human Tregs but not in other T cells, and that antibodies against αV or β8 subunits block TGF-β1 activation in vitro. They also showed that αV and β8 interact with GARP/latent TGF-β1 complexes in human Tregs. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract

Scientists discuss advances in the understanding of the interacting cellular subsets that comprise both primary and secondary type 2 responses. The studies described portray an immune response that depends upon well-organized tissue structures, and suggest their modulation as a therapeutic strategy. [Trends Immunol]
Abstract

Nektar Therapeutics presented preclinical data on NKTR-358, a potential first-in-class resolution therapeutic that may address the underlying immune system imbalance in patients with many immune conditions. [Press release from Nektar Therapeutics discussing research presented at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) Annual Meeting, San Diego]
Press Release

Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced dosing of the first patient in EV-103, a Phase Ib clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of enfortumab vedotin in combination with pembrolizumab or atezolizumab, two types of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, for first- or second-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. [Seattle Genetics, Inc.]
Press Release

BioLife Solutions, Inc. and SAVSU announced both companies are providing their respective enhanced cold chain technologies for use in eight active and pending clinical trials conducted by the Diabetes Center and Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. [BioLife Solutions, Inc.]
Press Release

The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of a common bacterium to kill wild mosquitoes that transmit viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika. The agency told biotechnology start-up MosquitoMate that it could release the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis into the environment as a tool against the Asian tiger mosquito. [Nature News]
Editorial

The World Health Organization is urging countries to restrict the amount of antibiotics given in food animal production by prohibiting their routine use in growth promotion and disease prevention. The recommendation is one of a number the WHO issued aimed at preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics. [STAT News]
Editorial

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has won a lawsuit against Sci-Hub, a website providing illicit free access to millions of paywalled scientific papers. ACS had alleged copyright infringement, trademark counterfeiting and trademark infringement; a district court in Virginia ruled that Sci-Hub should pay the ACS $4.8 million in damages after Sci-Hub representatives failed to attend court. [ScienceInsider]
Editorial